PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2005

OCTOBER 7, 2005

On Oct. 25, the 2005 NC School Report Cards will be released online at www.ncschoolreportcards.org. We were able to resolve the issues that potentially could have delayed the release date and are happy to report that we will launch on time. Principals received an email communication earlier this week concerning the preview period for the Report Cards. In addition to performing your data and information review, I hope that you and your school staff are considering ways in which you can use the report cards to educate your students' parents and your community about the successes and needs of your school. You may want to hold special information sessions with parents to help them see the stories behind the numbers, for example. Having a "one-stop site" for information about each North Carolina school provides the public with a great opportunity to increase understanding of public schools and the achievements of our students.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. SBE Ad Hoc Rigor, Relevance and Relationships Committee Meeting Summary
3. 2005 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools Announced
4. School Bus Safety Poster Contest Winners Announced
5. Shoebox Glider Challenge
6. Navigating Adolescence Topic of Symposium
7. Coastal AHEC Offers Seminars
8. Training Offered for Competent Assessment of Reading
9. Supporting the Children of Guard and Reserves Institute Scheduled for November
10. Connecting Minds Symposium Scheduled
11. Mentor Conference Scheduled for December
12. Education Directory to be Available in mid-October
13. Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program
14. Disney Teacher Awards Nominations Accepted
15. General Hugh Shelton National Student Leadership Scholarship

State Board Meeting Highlights

The State Board of Education yesterday approved revisions to its April 2005 policy on teacher licensure. These revisions do the following:

Teachers who are fully licensed and highly qualified in another state and who have three or more years of teaching experience in nother state and who have met North Carolina's Praxis testing requirements or have National Board Certification will be issued the Standard Professional 2 License.

Teachers who are fully licensed and highly qualified in another state and who have three or more years of teaching experience in another state but who have not met North Carolina's Praxis testing requirements or earned National Board Certification will be issued the Standard Professional 2 License after one year of satisfactory teaching in North Carolina with the recommendation of the employing school district which includes verification that the district will offer the teacher re-employment with the school district. The teacher will not be required to accept the offer of re-employment.

The State Board also approved convening a committee of stakeholders to determine the specific protocol to be used by teachers to document their ability to positively impact student learning. The protocol will be as simple and straightforward as possible. These changes are now in effect.

In other action, the Board approved a formal policy on the ABCs recognition categories that ends the designation of the 25 Most Improved K-8 Schools and 10 Most Improved High Schools. Complete Board Highlights will be posted online by Wednesday afternoon at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights.

SBE Ad Hoc Rigor, Relevance and Relationships Committee Meeting Summary

The SBE's Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships met in Raleigh on Tuesday, Sept. 27. The committee members heard a number of updates on topics that included the focus for the 2006 Raising Achievement and Closing the Gap Conference, high school assistance teams, and the American Diploma Project. Discussions also were held on the new law and the proposed SBE policy regarding informing 9th graders about accelerated preparation for college entry and on issues of accountability reporting for students taking courses at schools other than their base school. Most of the committee's time was spent discussing rigor in math courses in the public schools. Data presented to the committee indicates a trend in splitting Algebra I into two courses - Algebra IA and Algebra IB. It was noted that a majority of the school systems are not only splitting Algebra I but they also are giving two course credits for IA and IB, rather than one course credit for what should be one course (Algebra I). The committee has expressed concern regarding this trend and wants to bring a strengthened policy to the SBE that will discourage this practice for the majority of students, although the committee recognizes that for a select group of students this alternative is needed to help them successfully complete the course. The proposed revision of the policy would address not only math courses but also other core courses. The next date for the committee has not been set. For more information, please contact Betsy West, State Board of Education, 919.807.3405, or by email, bwest@dpi.state.nc.us.

2005 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools Announced

Congratulations to the following North Carolina public schools for being named 2005 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings: Clearmont Elementary, Yancey County Schools; Davidson Elementary, Elizabeth Lane Elementary, Hawk Ridge Elementary, and McKee Road Elementary, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools; Dr. Hubert Eaton Sr. Elementary, New Hanover County Schools; Morrisville Elementary, Wake County Schools; Rutherford College Elementary, Burke County Schools; and Tipton Hill Elementary, Mitchell County Schools. These schools are among 245 public and 50 private schools to achieve this honor. Representatives from each of these schools will be honored during a National Recognition Ceremony scheduled for Nov. 10-11 in Washington, DC, where they will receive a plaque and a flag signifying their No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School status. To read more, please go to the NCDPI's Web site at www.ncpublicschools.org and click on the appropriate link under "News."

School Bus Safety Poster Contest Winners Announced

Congratulations to the following elementary school students and one former middle school student who received top honors in North Carolina's 2005 National School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest, "I See the Driver - The Driver Sees Me:" - Spencer Winspear, a student at Cleveland Elementary (Johnston County Schools), Division 1 (K-2 grades) winner; - Justin Erickson, a student at General Greene Elementary (Guilford County Schools), Division 2 (3-5 grades) winner; - Amaniyea Pridgen, a student at Eastern Wayne Elementary (Wayne County Schools), Division 4 (Special Ed) winner; and - Zia Roberts, a former West Edgecombe Middle School student and currently a Southwest Edgecombe High student (Edgecombe County Schools), Division 3 (6-8 grades) winner. As first place winners, each received a $50 savings bond sponsored by the Governor's Highway Safety Program and had their posters featured, along with other category winners, on the School Bus Safety Web site at http://www.ncbussafety.org.

Shoebox Glider Challenge

The Wright Brothers flew their dream almost 102 years ago, and now students are being challenged to follow in those sandy footsteps by learning how to make shoeboxes fly. Interested teachers will meet with the NASA Challenge Master on Thursday, Oct. 13, from 4-5 p.m., to learn about this inquiry-focused, standards-based challenge and resources for teaching the principles of flight. The challenge will be issued to students on Thursday, Nov. 3, from 10-11 a.m., and the teams who meet the challenge in the most outstanding way will present to NASA and the world on Dec. 16. The Shoebox Glider Challenge sessions will be available via interactive videoconferencing and Web casts. Visit Distance Learning's Web site at http://video.dpi.state.nc.us/eforums or contact Cris Crissman at ccrissma@dpi.state.nc.us for all the details.

Navigating Adolescence Topic of Symposium

The North Carolina Medical Society Alliance will hold its Symposium 2005: Navigating Adolescence on Friday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Grandover Resort and Hotel, Greensboro. The NCDPI's Children's Trust Fund is sponsoring this event on navigating the social and emotional transformations of adolescence in coordination with The North Carolina Medical Society Alliance. The symposium includes two break-out sessions, a keynote address and a luncheon panel discussion. For more information, including registration, please go online to ncmsalliance.org.

Coastal AHEC Offers Seminars

The Coastal Area Health Education Center is sponsoring five seminars addressing the "Psychological Aspects of Hurricane Katrina and Rita. The seminars will be held from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on the following dates and locations: Oct. 18, Wilmington; Oct. 19, Charlotte; Nov. 7, Greensboro; Nov. 9, Asheville; and Nov. 10 Greenville. The registration fee is $75. Seating is limited so early registration is recommended. For more information, including a full agenda and registration, please go online to http://www.coastalahec.org/.

Training Offered for Competent Assessment of Reading

The NCDPI's Elementary Education Division is offering training in Competent Assessment of Reading for 3-6 grade teachers on Nov. 1-3 at the Clarion State Capital, Raleigh. Registration is open for 50 participants at $125 each, which covers all training materials, breaks and lunch each day. Registration information is available from Marilyn Palmer, Section Chief, K-5 ELA/Social Studies/Student Services Section, Elementary Division, 919.807.3935 or mpalmer@dpi.state.nc.us.

Supporting the Children of Guard and Reserves Institute Scheduled for November

The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) will hold a Supporting the Children of Guard and Reserves Institute for counselors, administrators, and other educators on Nov. 1-2 at the Durham Public Schools Staff Development Center. There is no charge to participate as registration and meals are funded by MCEC. Early registration (Oct. 21 deadline) is encouraged due to limited seating. The MCEC is a non-profit organization with the mission of addressing the educational needs of children in military families. Through the establishment of partnerships between schools and military installations, MCEC is establishing support systems for students and parents, and transition processes for schools and the children they serve. More than 2,300 National Guard and Reservists are currently deployed from North Carolina. For information, including registration, please contact Linda Neault at 877.953.1923 or Linda.Neault@MilitaryChild.org. To learn more about MCEC, visit its Web site at www.MilitaryChild.org.

Connecting Minds Symposium Scheduled

"North Carolina: Connecting Minds Symposium 2005" will be held Dec. 1-2 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center, RTP. This two-day professional development symposium led by All Kinds of Minds and facilitators of the Schools Attuned Program will provide an opportunity for educators to gain a deeper understanding of students who struggle with learning and expand knowledge of strategies to strengthen student achievement in every classroom. For more information, including registration, please go online to www.allkindsofminds.org or call Christie Smith, All Kinds of Minds, 919.933.8082, ext. 2221, or by email, csmith@allkindsofminds.org.

Mentor Conference Scheduled for December

The 4th Annual Mentor Conference, "Mentors: North Carolina's Treasures," will be held Dec. 4-6, at the Hilton Greenville. Registration is limited and pre-registration is required. Conference information, including registration, will be distributed to ILT Coordinators by the Regional Teachers on Loan or can be obtained online by going to the WRESA Web site at www.wresa.org and clicking on the appropriate link under Staff Development. The registration deadline is Nov. 1. Hotel reservations must be made by Nov. 14 to take advantage of the special rate. Additionally, "Requests for Presentations" proposal forms are available from Gayenell Gull, Human Resource Management, NCDPI, by calling 919.807.3377, or by emailing, ggull@dpi.state.nc.us.

Education Directory to be Available in mid-October

The 2005-06 Education Directory is expected back from the printer next week with orders being shipped soon thereafter. This year's directory has been redesigned and features spiral binding and tabs for user convenience. Please note that the cost for this year's directory has increased to $17 plus tax and shipping for a total of $21.82. For more information, please contact the NCDPI's Publications Sales at 919.807.3470, or toll-free in North Carolina, 800.663.1250.

Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program

The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program (JFMF) provides U.S. primary and secondary school teachers and administrators with the opportunity to participate in three-week study visits to Japan and to return home with a plan designed to introduce Japanese culture to American students. The JFMF Program features an orientation to Japan followed by visits to primary and secondary schools, teacher training colleges, cultural sites, and industrial facilities. Meetings with Japanese teachers and students and a home stay with a Japanese family also are key components of the program. The application deadline for the 2006 program is Dec. 10. For more information, please go online to http://www.iie.org/jfmf

Disney Teacher Awards Nominations Accepted

The Disney Teacher Awards were created to recognize extraordinary educators across the United States who construct learning environments where students and teachers explore, imagine, and engage in a variety of stimulating ideas and experiences. Honored teachers receive $10,000, a $5,000 grant for their school, and a six-day professional development institute with their principal at the Walt Disney World Resort. Nominations will be accepted through Oct. 15. For more information, including a nomination form, please go online to http://disneyhandteacherawards.go.com/

General Hugh Shelton National Student Leadership Scholarship

The General Hugh Shelton Leadership Initiative is again offering a major four-year college scholarship valued at $10,000 per year (renewable) plus an annual $2,500 stipend for external leadership experiences such as study aboard. Last year Ryan Nilsen of Wake County won this national scholarship. The mission of the General Hugh Shelton Leadership Initiative is to "inspire, educate, and develop values-based leaders who are committed to personal integrity, professional ethics and selfless service." The application deadline is Nov. 5. For more information, please go online to http://www.ncsu.edu/extension/sheltonleadership/scholarships/nsls.htm